WWII GERMAN BLACK WOUND BADGE -
Towards the end of the Spanish civil war, several German soldiers were wounded prompted. This prompted
Hitler to reinstitute an award dating back to WWI, the wound badge. The year was 1939, the design of the
badge was very similar to that employed during the great war, the main difference being that the new badge sported a raised swastika on the helmet.
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The Black wound badge was of metal
construction with a hollowed back. very thin. A
vertical pin
is provided to secure the badge to the
tunic
of the owner. This was accomplished by putting the pin through a series of loops (two or more)
that were sewn to the breast area of the jacket. The pin is hinged on one end and has a catch on the other.
The black wound badge was issued on a paper envelope.
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BY THE NUMBERS
It is hard to determine the exact number of Black wound badges that were produced. However, thanks to the record
keeping maintained by the Wehrmacht, it is possible to estimate how many crosses were actually issued. The number
stands well above 4 million.
The actual number of Black wound badges produced is greater than the number that was issue. It must be accounted that the
armed forces would have a stock in hand so it could replace lost ones and issue new awards. In addition the factories
were likely to have warehouses with inventory at hand. The Iron Cross was one of the awards most widely distributed
during WWII.
The population of Germany in 1939 was approximately 64,000,000.
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world of military collectibles.
The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military
collectible's price guide, and anatomical breakdown of each piece enhances the visitor's experience.
Whether you are a long time collector, a beginner or simply have an interest in the history and value of
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BLACK WOUND BADGE DESIGN
Consisting of an oval shape with a laural wreath with Berries surrounding the perimeter of the award.
The main body has raised pebbling. The profile of a German helmet is placed in the center. A swastka is placed in
the center of the helmet. A pair of crossed swords is located behind the helmet. The shape is stamped so it is
raised in the front and sunk in the back.
Markings
may be found in the back of the badge. The sample shown here does not have any. It is important to note
that not all the badges had markings.
The badge does not come apart as it is shown on the following photo. The different components are shown here
for illustration purposes.
The designers of the Black wound badge used items that were important to the German military complex as well as
the people in general. The following is an outline of the items and the possible motivation for their use.
Laurel with berries |
Helmet |
Swords |
Swastika |
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The Laurel is native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking. It figures
prominently in classical Greek, Roman, and Biblical culture.
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The German helmet was re-designed in 1935. Loosely based on the same model as used during WWI. The new helmet was
shorter, had ventilation rivets and a roled edge.
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The sword has long been a symbol of strength. The German Saxon tribes employed the sword in combat for generations.
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The Swastika was chosen by Hitler as the symbol of the Third Reich. It was displayed in just about every military
and civilian award.
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CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD
The 1939 wound badge was issued in three classes: Black,
silver and
gold .
The appearance of the badges was identical with the exeption of the color.
At the start the badge was issued to military personnel from all branches. As the war progressed and the allied
bombing campaigns intensified the award was extended to cover civilian personnel who were injured during the attacks.
This change came about by order of Dr Goebbels in 1943.
The criteria for earning the award follows:
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| CLASS | CRITERIA |
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Black Wound badge |
Issued to soldierd who received one to two wounds.
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Silver wound badge |
1. Awarded to soldiers who received three to four wounds.
2. One wound resulting in the loss of hand, foot, eye or causing defness.
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Gold wound badge |
1. Given to soldiers for getting wounded five or more times
2. Issued to soldiers who were totally disabled, permanently blind or lost their
manhood as a result of a wound.
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The only illness that qualified for receiving the wound badge was frostbite. This was a common ailment in the
Eastern front.
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A document was issued with every badge. It is important to note that the award documents came in a variety of
designs. Not one was the standard version. The example shown here is one of the documents employed. Other
documents of different format may have been employed.
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
badges in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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COLLECTING BLACK WOUND BADGES
Collecting Third Reich memorabilia is a field that has been growing since the days the GI's rummaged around Europe
bringing back military souvenirs. German soldiers wore many of their awards on their uniforms when they went to battle.
Once the soldier was killed or captured, the American soldiers would take the awards as war trophies. Eventually all
these pieces came back to the United States where military history enthusiasts began to collect them.
"I am trying to figure out if I should get into collecting Black wound badges."
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Determining which military badges to collect can be a challenging decision. The combination of availabiilty and
cost will often set the pace of what can be collected.
The adjacent table outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of collecting the Black wound badge.
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